Temporary residence permit marked “Temporary worker”
Date of update
Do you wish to work for a company in France for more than 3 months?
If so, you must apply for a residence permit.
Employees who are nationals of the EU, EEA or Switzerland are automatically entitled to pursue their activity in the same way as a French national. British citizens must now also apply for a residence permit as provided below for any arrival after January 1, 2021. Algerian citizens are subject to the stipulations of the French-Algerian Agreement (refer to our fact sheet on the topic).
Various categories of employees holding an employment contract with an employer established in France may be eligible for a multi-year Talent Passport permit.
For foreign employees who do not meet the conditions for one of the Talent Passports, access to the French labour market remains possible thanks to the temporary residence permit. For employees on fixed-term contracts, the “Temporary worker” temporary residence permit allows them to engage in salaried activity. The employer must file an application for the said work permit in advance.
Their employment status may, however, be contested when their application for visa and residence permit is reviewed.
Eligibility
Foreign employees not eligible for the “Talent Passport” residence permit or any other residence permit authorising salaried activity may benefit from the stay and access to employment in France thanks to the “Temporary worker” temporary residence permit.
To be eligible, employees must have evidence of the following:
- a fixed-term employment contract;
- Provided they have been awarded a work permit in advance, further to application by their employer in France. When deciding whether to issue a work permit, the competent authority takes into account employment levels in the profession and region in question, by virtue of the principle of opposability of employment status. Consult our fact sheet on work permits to learn more about the procedure.
Authorised length of stay
The validity period of this residence permit is 12 months, renewable subject to conditions.
Procedure
Where to apply
You live outside France
Applicants residing outside France may go to the French diplomatic consular authorities of their place of residence to apply for an “Employee” long-stay visa equivalent to a residence permit (Visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour – VLS-TS).
The VLS-TS is valid for 12 months and authorises its holder to engage in a salaried professional activity upon arrival
More information on France-visas
Once in France, employees must validate their VLS-TS online with the OFII, via the dedicated platform: administration-etrangers-en-france. No application for a residence permit with the Prefecture is required during the first year of stay.
The foreign national is then asked to attend a compulsory medical examination and/or welcome visit.
You are already living in France
If applicants are already living in France under a different type of residence permit, they will need to apply to the Préfecture (office of the Prefect, the local representative of national government) in their place of residence for a change of status. The application, including the request for work permit drawn up by the employer, is filed with the Prefecture of the employee’s place of residence.
The work permit application is sent by the Prefecture to the competent authority for review.
Subject to eligibility, the relevant party will be given a temporary “Employee” residence permit valid for one year, renewable.
When should I begin the procedure?
The procedure should be initiated no earlier than three months before the date of arrival in France.
If the applicant is already living in France, the procedure should be initiated two months before the previous residence permit expires.
Documents required
Applicants can obtain a list of exactly which documents are required for a residence permit application from the authority responsible for handling the application, either in person or via its website.
As an indication, you can download a list of documents that must be submitted with an application for a Temporary residence permit marked « Temporary worker »
Cost of the residence permit
Applicants must pay a tax of €200 to the French Immigration and Citizenship Office (Office français de l’immigration et de l’intégration – OFII) when the permit is issued. In addition to this tax, stamp duty of €25 is also charged on residence permits.
In addition to this administrative cost of €225, the long-stay visa authorizing entry into France costs €99.
Extending your stay
Renewal
Renewal applications must be submitted in the two months before the residence permit expires.
Applicants must produce documents showing that they continue to meet the conditions of issuance of their permit.
For the renewal of an “Temporary worker” residence permit, the applicant must be able prove continued fulfilment of the conditions set out for residence permit eligibility, at the time of the application for renewal with the Prefecture. The “Temporary worker” residence permit is renewed for a period identical to that of the employment contract or the new fixed-term contract:
- when the employee continues to work under the fixed-term contract, the application must include the work permit previously granted, along with a certificate of activity. The temporary residence permit is renewed for a period identical to that of the employee’s remaining fixed-term employment contract;
- when the employee concludes a new contract, the work permit application filed by the employer is submitted to the Prefecture by the employee when applying to renew the “Temporary worker” temporary residence permit. The work permit application for the new job is sent to the competent authority. If the temporary residence permit is renewed, it will be renewed for a period identical to that of the new employment contract
Administrative cost: €225
Change of status
In the event of a change in the holder’s professional circumstances, a change of status may be considered at the Préfecture in the two months before the residence permit expires. They will be required to prove eligibility for the new residence permit requested.
Is your family coming with you?
Families accompanying foreign talents with this type of status are not eligible for the fast-track procedure, but can apply for a residence permit independent of that of the primary applicant (visitor status, employee status if the person in question has found a job in France for example).
Otherwise, families may apply for residency in France under family reunification terms. Family reunification terms apply when foreign nationals having resided in the country legally for at least 18 months wish to have their spouse and children join them.
For more information on the family reunification procedure, please visit service-public.fr.
For more information on the family reunification procedure, please visit the French administration website.